Thursday, October 20, 2005

The IDF tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement around Jerusalem, in Hebron citing the Sukkoth holiday; continues arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, as well as in Jaba’ nr. Jenin; fires on stonethrowing Palestinians along the Jerusalem– Bethlehem road nr. Kefar Etzion, killing 1 Palestinian. The IDF also ends escorts of Palestinian children in s. Hebron, citing concerns that troops could be drawn into clashes with angry Jewish settlers targeting Palestinians for retribution following the 10/16 drive-by shootings; the IDF began escorts about 1 yr. ago to protect the children fr. repeated attacks by Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on. Jewish settlers fr. Elon Moreh cut down 30 olive trees, burn another 200 in Salim in revenge for the drive-by shootings on 10/16. (HA 10/20; HA, Independent 10/21; PCHR 10/27)

Abbas, Bush meet in Washington but do not announce any new initiatives. In a pessimistic statement, Bush cautions that a Palestinian state might not be established by the time he leaves office in 2009. (AFP, REU 10/20; AFP, HA, JTA, NYT, WP, WT 10/21; WT 10/22; YA 10/23; JTA 10/24; DS 10/25)